A paid teaching job or a TEFL internship in Lima and Arequipa
Machu Picchu on your weekends, one of the world's great food scenes on your doorstep, and a teaching job or internship that gets you there with support all the way. Here's what each route costs, pays and includes.
We offer two routes into teaching in Peru: a paid language school job for qualified teachers, and an internship that includes your TEFL and teaching practice. Both have a programme fee, and we show exactly what you get for it.
Language schools · Lima
Lima and major cities · 6 or 12 months
You'll need: a TEFL, and a degree in education or any degree plus 6 months' teaching experience. Programme fee £299.
See the job and apply
Internship · Lima and Arequipa
Primary and secondary schools · Classes of 10–20 · 3 to 6 months
You'll need: native or near-native English. A degree is preferred, not essential. Programme fee £699, with a £350 deposit to reserve your place.
See the internship and applyNot sure which suits you? If you're already qualified, the language school job pays more and includes your flight. If you're new to teaching, the internship trains you in Peru first.
Get Peru alertsThe two routes suit different people. Here's how they compare.
| Feature | Language school job, Lima | TEFL internship, Lima and Arequipa |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | US$850 a month | Local salary plus bonuses up to US$600 a month |
| Programme fee | £299 | £699, with a £350 deposit |
| TEFL | Required before you apply | 170-hour TEFL included, with teaching practice in Peru |
| Degree and experience | Education degree, or any degree plus 6 months' teaching | Degree preferred, not essential. No experience needed |
| Flights | Return flight included | Not included |
| Visa | Visa costs reimbursed | About US$200, paid by you |
| Length | 6 or 12 months | 3 to 6 months |
| Students | Children and adults | Primary and secondary, classes of 10–20 |
| Best for | Qualified teachers wanting a longer stay | First-timers who want training and support |
Figures are from our current programme details. Ask us if you'd like a full breakdown of what each fee covers.
English is increasingly important in Peru for tourism, business and study, and language schools in Lima and other cities teach children, teenagers and working adults. Native-level English speakers are in steady demand.
Peru isn't a place to save money, but it's one of the most rewarding countries in Latin America to live in: Inca history, the Andes and the Amazon, world-famous food and genuinely welcoming people. A few months here can also give you the classroom experience and Spanish that open doors to better-paid jobs later.
Above the rooftops of Cusco, gateway to Machu Picchu.
Peru is affordable, especially outside Lima's most expensive districts. Your pay covers a comfortable local life with weekends away, but plan to bring savings too.
Monthly pay on our Peru programmes
A room in a shared flat in Lima, less in Arequipa
A set lunch (menú) with soup, main and a drink
Most local bus rides, with cheap taxis and ride apps too
Paid holiday a year on the language school job, plus public holidays
Included on the language school job
Here's an illustrative budget for a language school teacher sharing a flat in a popular area such as Miraflores or Barranco. Costs are lower in Arequipa and outer districts.
| Monthly pay | US$850 |
| Room in a shared flat | US$400 |
| Bills and internet share | US$40 |
| Phone and data | US$15 |
| Groceries and eating out | US$200 |
| Buses, taxis and ride apps | US$50 |
| Going out and hobbies | US$80 |
| Weekend trips | US$60 |
| Left over | about US$5 |
In other words, your pay covers your life in Lima. Bring savings for big trips such as Machu Picchu.
Peru is a lifestyle and experience choice. You'll live well locally, but you won't save, and big trips like Cusco and Machu Picchu are best funded from savings.
The programme fees are real costs, so weigh them against what's included: a return flight on the job, and a full TEFL with in-country teaching practice on the internship.
Arrive with around £1,500–£2,000 to cover a deposit on a room, your first month and travel.
For the language school job you'll need:
For the internship you'll need native or near-native English. A degree is preferred but not essential, and your TEFL is included. No Spanish needed for either route.
Both programmes start year-round.
Send your application and CV, and we'll check which route suits you.
Shortlisted applicants have a short online interview.
Accept your offer and pay your programme fee or deposit.
We support you through the visa process, with a pre-departure webinar for interns.
Airport pick-up, orientation and training, then your first classes.
The internship already includes a 170-hour TEFL with teaching practice in Peru, so interns don't need a course first. For the language school job, a TEFL is required before you apply. Book through ESLstarter for our discounted prices with partner TEFL UK.
from£63
ESLstarter price, only when you book here
£239
ESLstarter price, only when you book here
Good to know: if you join the internship, your TEFL is part of the programme, so you don't need to buy one separately.
Our programmes are based in Lima and Arequipa, two very different cities with the rest of Peru within easy reach.
Peru's huge capital on the Pacific coast, with clifftop districts like Miraflores and Barranco, surfing and one of the world's great food scenes.
The "White City" of colonial buildings carved from volcanic stone, sunny all year, with volcanoes on the skyline and Colca Canyon nearby.
The old Inca capital and gateway to Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley, a short flight from Lima.
Trek in Huaraz, see Lake Titicaca or head into the rainforest at Iquitos or Puerto Maldonado on a long weekend.
Ceviche by the sea, markets full of handmade crafts, Inca ruins in the mountains and festivals all year round. Peru is a country you'll keep coming back to.
Wherever you apply, these are the questions we'd ask before saying yes.
Ask for a clear list of what's included, such as flights, TEFL, orientation, accommodation and support.
Check when your deposit or fee is refundable, and what happens if your plans change.
Make sure you know which visa you'll need, who arranges it and who pays for it.
Ask about weekly teaching hours, class sizes and whether you'll teach evenings or weekends.
Ask whether accommodation is included at any point, and whether someone will help you find a safe place to live.
Check there's a local team you can call if anything goes wrong, day or night.
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Our language school role in Lima pays US$850 a month, with a return flight included and around 15 days' paid holiday. Our Peru internship pays a local salary plus bonuses of up to US$600 a month. Pay covers a modest local lifestyle rather than savings.
Both Peru programmes come with services that cost money to provide. The language school job (£299) comes with a return flight, orientation, training and in-country support. The internship (£699) comes with a 170-hour TEFL with 20 hours of assessed teaching practice in Peru, a three-day orientation with accommodation, Spanish lessons and placement support.
On our Peru internship, a degree is preferred but not essential, and your TEFL is included. Our language school job needs a degree, either in education or in any subject plus six months' teaching experience.
For our language school job, yes: a TEFL, TESOL or CELTA is required. Our internship includes a 170-hour TEFL with in-country teaching practice, so you don't need one before you apply. See the courses we recommend.
No. You teach in English. Our internship includes free Spanish lessons before you arrive and in person in Miraflores, and some Spanish makes daily life in Peru far easier.
Not much. Salaries cover rent and a comfortable local life, especially outside Lima's most expensive districts, but Peru is about experience, Spanish and travel rather than savings. Bring savings for your first month.
Both of our Peru programmes start year-round. The internship has monthly start dates, and the language school job recruits on an ongoing basis.
Thousands of foreigners live, work and travel in Peru every year. Use normal big-city precautions in Lima, take local advice on neighbourhoods and transport, and check your government's latest travel advice before you go.
Pick the route that suits you and apply in a few minutes.
We currently have the following programs available in Peru
